At the height of the Roman Empire, a quarter of the world’s population lived and died under Roman law, making it one of the most influential and culturally diverse civilizations that has ever been. “Rome: City and Empire,” now on view at the Frist Center for the Visual Arts, shows the civilization’s rise from a cluster of small villages to over 45 provinces that stretched across Western Europe, the United Kingdom, northern Africa and the Middle East. Presenting more than 200 objects from the British Museum, renowned for its vast collection of classical antiquities, the exhibition marks the first time art and artifacts from ancient Rome will be on display at the Frist, the sole North American venue on the tour.

Sarcophagus showing the wedding of Bacchus and Ariadne (Rome, Italy), 2nd century CE. Marble, 19 1/8 x 86 5/8 x 252 3/4 in. The British Museum, 1805,0703.130.(Photo: The Trustees of the British Museum)

The works on display range from monumental to intimate and span 10 centuries of Roman history, following its political evolution from monarchy to republic and finally, to empire. From portraits of emperors, military leaders, citizens and mythological figures, to stunning examples of pottery, paintings, jewelry, coins and other objects, visitors are given a window into daily life in ancient Rome and the relationship between the Roman imperial government and the diverse populations it conquered.

“Many provinces emulated Roman styles and concepts, while others integrated Roman imagery with local subjects, materials and styles,” says Mark Scala, chief curator for the Frist Center. “The curatorial team in London wanted us to see that there is no such thing as Roman art, with its own set of attributes. The art of the Roman empire includes stylistic adaptations of local traditions as much as classical norms often associated with Roman aesthetics.”

Exhibition highlights include a monumental marble statue of a Roman magistrate that required 200 hours of conservation; a bronze parade helmet regarded as one of the finest calvary masks in existence; a funerary relief from Palmyra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where monuments were razed by Islamic State militants in 2015; and a plaque commemorating Amazon and Achillia, one of the few depictions of women gladiators in existence.

Of particular significance is a statue of the god Mithras sacrificing a bull, which is a myth adapted from Persian Zoroastrianism. The beautifully preserved statue demonstrates the Roman tolerance of Eastern religions late in the empire and sheds light on the roots of Christianity. “This was a period in which social instability and transformation led to the rise of mystery cults as people sought answers in the supernatural realm,” Scala says. “Mithraism's great rival was Christianity, which in the end prevailed, partly because it accepted the role of women in its rituals, whereas Mithraism was an all-male cult.”

Statue of Mithras slaying a bull (Italy), 2nd century CE. Marble, 31 1/2 x 43 1/4 x 14 5/8 in. The British Museum, 1805,0703.270.(Photo: The Trustees of the British Museum)

For Scala, the most striking work is found in the gallery devoted to funerary art. It is a monumental sculpture of a woman holding the bust of her deceased husband, whose ashes would have been placed in an urn behind her shoulder. “The sculpture is a loving and mournful reminder of emotional connectedness in this life and the next,” he says. “Something we can identify with 2,000 years after it was made.”

The points of connection between Roman antiquity and today are extensive, and “Rome: City and Empire” reveals its lingering influence in our modern world. “Rome has had a hold on the world’s imagination for millennia. We are suffused with our Roman legacy,” says Scala. “Even if you think you know nothing about ancient Rome, you actually know quite a bit.”

In addition to materials illustrating Rome’s architectural achievements, its expansion and sites where artifacts were found, the exhibition features a laminated comic book by local artist Michael Lapinski. Titled “Fortune and Glory” the publication offers visitors an interactive, role-playing guide through the exhibit that enhances understanding of daily life in ancient Rome.